A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
EA
Enforcement Agreement.
EA
Environmental Action.
EA
Environmental Assessment.
EA
Environmental Audit.
EAF
Electric Arc Furnace.
EAP
Environmental Action Plan.
EB
Emissions Balancing.
EBCDIC
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code.
EBS
Emergency Broadcast System
EC
Effective Concentration.
EC
Environment Canada.
EC
European Community.
ECAO
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office.
EC50
(median) effective concentration. The concentration of a material in water, a single dose of which is expected to cause a biological effect on 50% of a group of test animals.
ECD
Electron Capture Detector.
ECHH
Electro-Catalytic Hyper-Heaters.
ECL
Environmental Chemical Laboratory.
ECL
Executive Control Language.
ECLA
Economic Commission for Latin America.
E.Coli
Escherichia coli, one of the members of the coliform group of bacteria indicating fecal contamination.
ecological impact
the total effect of an environmental change, natural or man-made, on the community of living things.
ecology
the relationships of living things to one another and to their environment, or the study of such relationships.
economic poisons
chemicals used to control pests and to defoliate cash crops such as cotton.
economizer
a heat exchanger in a furnace stack that transfers heat from the stack gas to the boiler feedwater.
ecosphere
the "bio-bubble" that contains life on earth, in surface waters, and in the air. (See biosphere).
ecosystem
the interacting system of a biological community and its nonliving surroundings.
ECRA
Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act.
ED50
Effective dose. The calculated dose, derived experimentally, which would produce a specified effect in 50 percent of the test population.
EDA
Economic Development Administration.
EDA
Emergency Declaration Area.
EDF
Environmental Defense Fund.
EDRS
Enforcement Document Retrieval System.
edema
an abnormal accumulation of clear, watery fluid in body tissue.
EDI
Electronic Data Interchange. Efforts have been underway to develop a standard for the transmission format for MSDS within the context of an EDI environment.
EDTA
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The sodium salt is the usual form of this chelating material.
eductor
a device that by flow of water through it creating a vacuum, draws a solution into the water stream.
EEA
Energy and Environmental Analysis.
EEC
European Economic Community.
EEG
Electroencephalogram.
EEMI
Environmental Engineers and Management Institute.
EER
Exercise Evaluation Report.
EERI
Earthquake Engineering Resources Institute.
EERU
Environmental Emergency Response Unit.
EESI
Environment and Energy Study Institute.
EESL
Environmental Ecological and Support Laboratory.
EF
Emission Factor.
effluent
water and quantities, rates and concentrations of chemical, physical, biological and other constituents which are discharged from point sources.
effluent limitation
restrictions established by a State or EPA on quantities, rates, and concentrations in wastewater discharges.
EGR
Exhaust Gas Recirculation.
EHAP
Extremely Hazardous Air Pollutant.
EHC
Environmental Health Committee.
EHIS
Emission History Information System.
EHS
Extremely Hazardous Substance.
EIA
Economic Impact Assessment.
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment.
EIL
Environmental Impairment Liability.
EINECS
European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances.
EIR
Endangerment Information Report.
EIR
Environmental Impact Report.
EIS
Environmental Impact Statement.
EIS
Environmental Inventory System.
EIS/AS
Emissions Inventory System/Area Source.
EITF
Emerging Issues Task Force.
EKMA
Empirical Kinetic Modeling Approach.
ELECLEAN
Electrode Cleaner (ETUS).
electrical conductivity
property which allows an electric current to flow when a potential difference is applied. It is the reciprocal of the resistance in ohms measured between opposite faces of a centimeter cube of an aqueous solution at a specified temperature. It is expressed as microohms per centimeter at temperature degrees Celsius.
electrical equipment
means underground equipment that contains dielectric fluid that is necessary for the operation of equipment such as transformers and buried electrical cable.
electrodes
conductive materials, placed in water solution, which have a positive or negative charge.
electrodialysis
a process that uses electrical current applied to permeable membranes to remove minerals from water. Often used to desalinize salt or brackish water.
electrolyte
a nonmetallic substance that conducts an electric current in solution by the movement of ions rather than electrons.
electroneutrality
where the positive charges equal the negative charges.
electrostatic precipitator (ESP)
an air pollution control device that removes particles from a gas stream (smoke) after combustion occurs. The ESP imparts an electrical charge to the particles, causing them to adhere to metal plates inside the precipitator. Rapping on the plates causes the particles to fall into a hopper for disposal.
eligible costs
the construction costs for wastewater treatment works upon which EPA grants are based.
ELR
Environmental Law Reporter.
elution
the process of extracting one solid from another. Often used incorrectly to describe the regeneration of an ion exchanger.
elutriation
the washing of a sludge with water to free it of its mother liquor.
EM
Electromagnetic.
E-MAIL
Electronic Mail.
EMAS
Enforcement Management and Accountability System.
embolism
obstruction of a blood vessel by a transported clot, a mass of bacteria, etc.
embryo
an organism in the early stages of development before birth. In humans, the developing child is considered an embryo from conception to the end of the second month of pregnancy.
embryotoxin
a material harmful a a developing embryo at a concentration that has no adverse effect on the pregnant female.
EMD
Emergency Management Director
emergency classification level
refers to a designated level describing the general characteristics of a emergency resulting from a incident/accident of a hazardous material.
emergency (chemical)
a situation created by an accidental release or spill of hazardous chemicals which poses a threat to the safety of workers, residents, the environment, or property.
emergency episode
see air pollution episode.
Emergency Management Director
refers to the individual responsible for the management of the emergency response away from the incident/accident site.
Emergency Operations Center
refers to where department heads, government officers and officials, and volunteer disaster agencies gather to coordinate their response to an emergency.
Emergency Phase
refers to the initial phase of response actions, during which actions are taken in response to a threat of a release or a release in progress.
emetic
an agent that induces vomiting.
EMILY
Early Money Is Like Yeast: it raises more money.
eminent domain
government taking-or forced acquisition-of private land for public use, with compensation paid to the landowner.
emission
pollution discharged into the atmosphere from smoke- stacks, other vents, and surface areas of commercial or industrial facilities; from residential chimneys; and from motor vehicle, locomotive, or aircraft exhausts.
emission factor
the relationship between the amount of pollution produced and the amount of raw material processed. For example, an emission factor for a blast furnace making iron would be the number of pounds of particulates per ton of raw materials.
emphysema
an irreversibly diseased lung condition in which the alveolar walls have lost their resiliency, resulting in an excessive reduction in the lungs' capacity.
emulsifier
an emulsion stabilizer (soap in case of oil and water).
emulsion
a colloidal dispersion of one liquid in another.
emulsion-stable
a heterogeneous system consisting of at least one immiscible liquid dispersed in another in the form of microscopically visible droplets.
emission
like effluent but used in regard to air pollution.
emission factor
the relationship between the amount of pollution produced and the amount of raw material processed. For example, an emission factor for the blast furnace making iron would be the number of pounds of particulates per ton of raw materials.
emission inventory
a listing, by source, of the amounts of air pollutants discharged into the atmosphere of a community daily. It is used to establish emission standards.
emission standard
the maximum amount of discharge legally allowed from a single source, mobile or stationary.
emission trading
EPA policy that allows a plant complex with several facilities to decrease pollution from some facilities while increasing it from others, so long as total results are equal to or better than previous limits. Facilities where this is done are treated as if they exist in a bubble in which total emissions are averaged out.Complexes that reduce emissions substantially may "bank" their "credits" or sell them to other industries.
emphysema
A lung condition where It becomes difficult to exhale.This condition may be due to mucus plugging passage ways or air trapped in the lungs due to loss of elasticity of lining tissues.
employer
OSHA defines as a person engaged in a business where chemicals are either used, distributed, or are produced for use or distribution. Including a contractor or subcontractor.
EMR
Environmental Management Report.
EMS
Emergency Medical Services
EMS
Enforcement Management System.
EMSL
Environmental Monitoring Support Laboratory.
EMSL
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory.
EMTS
Environmental Monitoring Testing Site.
endangered assessment
a study conducted to determine the nature and extent of contaminations at a site on the National Priorities List and the risk posed to public health or the environment. EPA or the state conduct the study when a legal action is to be taken to direct potentially responsible parties to clean up a site or pay for the cleanup. An endangered assessment supplements a remedial investigation.
endangered species
animals, birds, fish, plants, or other living organisms threatened with extinction by man-made or natural changes in their environment. Requirements for declaring a species endangered are contained in the Endangered Species Act.
endothermic
absorbing heat.
end point
a preselected value or measurement used to determine when the service cycle is completed or that a breakthrough has occurred.
enforcement
EPA, state, or local legal actions to obtain compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.Enforcement procedures may vary, depending on the specific requirement of different environmental laws and related implementing regulatory requirements. Under CERCLA, for example, EPA will seek to require potentially responsible parties to clean up a Superfund site, or pay for the cleanup, whereas under the Clean Air Act the agency may invoke sanctions against cities failing to meet ambient air quality standards that could prevent certain types of construction or federal funding. In other situations, if investigations by EPA and state agencies uncover willful violations, criminal trials and penalties are sought.
enforcement decision document (EDD)
a document that provides an explanation to the public of EPA's selection of the cleanup alternative at enforcement sites on the National Priorities List. Similar to a Record of Decision.
engineering controls
engineering control systems reduce potential hazards by isolating the worker from the hazard or by removing the hazard from the work environment. Methods include ventilation, isolation, and enclosure. This is preferred over personal protective equipment.
enrichment
sewage effluent or agricultural runoff adding nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon compounds) to a water body, greatly increasing the growth potential for algae and aquatic plants.
enthalpy
the total heat content of a body.
entrainment
the transport of water into a gas stream. In a boiler, this is carryover, in a cooling tower, drift.
entropy
a mathematical expression applying to the limits to the availability of energy; a measure of the random motion of matter.
environment
the sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development and survival of an organism. As defined by section 101(8) of CERCLA, means the navigable waters, the waters of the contiguous zone, and the ocean waters of which the natural resources are under the exclusive management authority of the United States under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and any other surface water, ground water, drinking water supply, land surface or subsurface strata, or ambient air within the United States or under the jurisdiction of the United States.
environmental assessment
a written environmental analysis which is prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to determine whether a federal action would significantly affect the environment and thus require preparation of a more detailed environmental impact statement.
environmental audit
1. an independent assessment of the current status of a party's compliance with applicable environmental requirements. 2. an independent evaluation of a party's environmental compliance policies, practices, and controls.
environmental impact statement
a document required of Federal agencies by the National Environmental Policy Act for major projects or legislative proposals. They are used in making decisions about the positive and negative effects of the undertaking, and list alternatives.
environmental response team
EPA experts located in Edison, NJ, and Cincinnati, OH, who can provide around-the-clock technical assistance to EPA regional offices and states during all types of emergencies involving hazardous waste sites and spills of hazardous substances.
environmental technology
technology as applied to environmental management, also: tradename for ETUS, Inc.
enzyme
as applied to water, a chemical produced by living cells having the ability to reduce large organic molecules to units small enough to diffuse through the cell membrane.
EOC
Emergency Operations Center
EOD
Explosion Ordnance Disposal.
EOE
Equal Opportunity Employer.
EOT
Emergency Operations Team.
EP
Environmental Profile.
EP
Extraction Procedure.
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; primary federal agency responsible for enforcement of federal laws protecting the environment.
EPA, (Canada) Environmental Protection Act
Federal legislation, administered by Environment Canada, designed to protect the environment.
EPAA
Environmental Programs Assistance Act.
EPAAR
EPA Acquisition Regulations.
EPACASR
EPA Chemical Activities Status Report.
EPCA
Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
EPCRA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; also known as SARA Title III.
EPI
Environmental Policy Institute.
EPI
Environmental Priorities Initiative.
EPIC
Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center.
epidemic
widespread outbreak of a disease, or a large number of cases of a disease in a single community or relatively small area.
epidemiology
the study of diseases as they affect population, including the distribution of disease, or other health- related states and events in human populations, the factors (e.g. age, sex, occupation, economic status) that influence this distribution, and the application of this study to control health problems.
epiphora
excessive flow of tears.
episode (pollution)
an air pollution incident in a given area caused by a concentration of atmospheric pollution reacting with meteorological conditions that may result in a significant increase in illnesses or deaths. Although most commonly used in relation to air pollution, the term may also be used in connection with other kinds of environmental events such as a massive water pollution situation.
epistaxis
nosebleed.
EPO
Estuarine Programs Office.
EPRI
Electric Power Research Institute.
EPTC
Extraction Procedure Toxicity Characteristic.
EP TOX
Extraction Procedure Toxicity Test.
equation
an expression of a reaction using chemical symbols.
equalization (continuous flow)
balancing of flow or pollutant load using a holding tank for a system that has widely varying inflow rates.
equilibrium
in relation to radiation, the state at which the radioactivity of consecutive elements within a radioactive series is neither increasing nor decreasing.
equivalent
equal valence.
equivalent method
any method of sampling and analyzing for air pollution which has been demonstrated to the EPA Administrator's satisfaction to be, under specific conditions, an acceptable alternative to the normally used reference methods.
equivalent per million
a unit of concentration used in chemical calculations, calculated by dividing the concentration in ppm or mg/L by the equivalent weight.
equivalent weight
the weight in grams of a substance which combines with or displaces one gram of hydrogen; it is usually obtained by dividing the formula weight by the valence.
ER
Electrical Resistivity.
ERA
Economic Regulatory Agency.
ERAMS
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System.
ERC
Environment Reporter Cases.
ERC
Environmental Research Center.
ERCS
Emergency Response Cleanup Service.
ERDA
Energy Research and Development Administration.
ERD&DAA
Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act.
ergonomics
the study of human characteristics for the appropriate design of living and work environments.
ERL
Environmental Research Laboratory.
ERNS
Emergency Response Notification Systems.
erosion
the wearing away of land surface by wind or water.Erosion occurs naturally from weather or run-ff but can be intensified by land-clearing practices related to farming, residential or industrial development, road building, or timber-cutting.
ERT
Environmental Response Team.
erythema
abnormally red skin from capillary congestion.
ES
Enforcement Strategy.
ESA
Endangered Species Act.
ESA
Environmental Site Assessment.
ESA
Environmentally Sensitive Area.
ESC
Endangered Species Committee.
ESCA
Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis.
ESECA
Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act.
ESH
Environmental Safety and Health.
ESLI
End-of-Service-Life Indicator.
ESP
Electrostatic Precipitators.
estuaries
areas where fresh water meets salt water (bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, lagoons). These brackish water ecosystems shelter and feed marine life, birds and wildlife.
estuary
regions of interaction between rivers and nearshore ocean waters, where tidal action and river flow create a mixing of fresh and salt water. These areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, and lagoons. These brackish water ecosystems shelter and feed marine life, birds, and wildlife. (See: wetlands).
ET
Emissions Trading.
ETD
Evaluation Team Director
Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
a chemical used as an agricultural fumigant and in certain industrial processes. Extremely toxic and found to be a carcinogen in laboratory animals.
etiology
all of the factors that contribute to the cause of a disease or an abnormal condition.
ETP
Emissions Trading Policy.
ETUS
one of the worlds leading environmental technology organizations. Located at 1511 Kastner Drive, Sanford, Florida 32771 USA, Tel:(407)321-7910, Fax:(407)321-3098.
EUP
Environmental Use Permit.
eutrophication
the slow aging process of a lake evolving into a marsh and eventually disappearing. During eutrophication the lake is choked by abundant plant life. Human activities that add nutrients to a water body can speed up this action.
eutrophic lakes
shallow murky water bodies that have excessive concentrations of plant nutrients causing excessive algal production. (See: dystropic lakes).
eutrophication
the slow aging process during which a lake, estuary, or bay evolves into a bog or marsh and eventually disappears. During the later stages of eutrophication the water body is choked by abundant plant life as the result of increased amounts of nutritive compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Human activities can accelerate the process.
evaluation packet
refers to the material that the ETD provides to each evaluator so that he is fully aware of his responsibilities in the exercise.
evaluation team
refers to the evaluators, controllers, and team and group leaders assigned to evaluate a hazardous materials exercise.
evaluators
refers to those persons assigned to each major playing element to observe the exercise and gather data. Their primary role is to observe actions taken by players and to record their observations.The evaluators' efforts provide the major portion of the documentation necessary to critique the exercise and produce an exercise report.The evaluators may also assist the controllers in keeping the exercise on track, but will not interfere with the players in the performance of their duties.
EVAP-T
Evaporator Odor Control (ETUS).
evaporation ponds
areas where sewage sludge is dumped and allowed to dry out.
evaporation rate
the rate at which a material vaporizes (volatilizes, evaporates) from the liquid or solid state when compared to a known material's evaporation rate. The evaporation rate can be useful in evaluating a material's health and fire hazards. The known material is usually normal butyl acetate (N-BuAc or n-BuAc), with a vaporization rate designated as 1.0. Vaporization rates of other solvents or materials are then classified as (1) FAST evaporating if greater than 3.0 e.g., methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), 3.8; acetone, 5.6; hexane, 8.3; (2) MEDIUM evaporating if 0.8 to 3.0, e.g., 190-proof (95%) ethyl alcohol, 1.4; VM&P naphtha, 1.4; MIBK, 1.6; (3) SLOW evaporating if less than 0.8 e.g., ethylene, 0.6; isobutyl alcohol, 0.6; normal butyl alcohol, 0.4; water, 0.3; mineral spirits, 0.1.
evapotranspiration
the loss of water from the soil both by evaporation and by transpiration from the plants growing in the soil.
excavation zone
means the volume containing the tank system and backfill material bounded by the ground surface, walls, and floor of the pit and trenches into which the UST system is placed at the time of installation.
exceedance
violation of environmental protection standards by exceeding allowable limits or concentration levels.
Excell
a patented form of stabilized Chlorine Dioxide used to treat potable and industrial waters, inhibit bacterial growth, improve taste, sanitize and control odor. It also has uses in the reduction of Cyanide and the break down of Phenols. EPA registration No. 9150-3. EPA establishment No. 9150-R.I.- 58700H1.
excessive
Exceeding the usual, proper, or normal. As distinguished from words such as immoderate and inordinate, excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.
excess capacity factor
a multiplier on process size to account for shutdown for cleaning and maintenance.
exchange sites
reactive groups on an ion exchange resin.
exclusionary
any form of zoning ordinance that tends to exclude specific classes of persons or businesses from a particular district or area.
exempt solvent
specific organic compounds that are not subject to requirements of regulation because they have been deemed by EPA to be of negligible photochemical reactivity.
exempt aquifer
underground bodies of water defined in the Under- ground Injection Control program as aquifers that are sources of drinking water (although they are not being used as such) and that are exempted from regulations barring underground injection activities.
exercise rules
refers to a set of general rules on how the exercise will be conducted. Many of the same ground rules may apply in all hazardous materials exercises. Exercise rules define the role and authority of the chief controller(s), other controllers, exercise evaluators, and players. Other rules for exercise conduct may include safety guidelines or information on pertinent State or local laws or regulations that may affect exercise participants and their play. The rules may also include procedures for when and how to terminate an exercise and for giving precedence to real emergencies.
exercise scenario
refers to a sequential, narrative account of a hypothetical incident or accident. The scenario provides the catalyst for the exercise and is intended to introduce situations which will inspire responses, and thus allow demonstration of the exercise objectives. Most scenarios are initiated with an accident resulting in a release of, or the potential for a release of, a hazardous material.
ExEx
Expected Exceedance.
existing tank system
means a tank system used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances or for which installation has commenced on or before December 22, 1988. Installation is considered to have commenced if: (a) the owner or operator has obtained all federal, state, and local approvals or permits necessary to begin physical construction of the site or installation of the tank system; and if, (b)(1) either a continuous on-site physical construction or installation program has begun; or,(2) the owner or operator has entered into contractual obligations--which cannot be canceled or modified without substantial loss--for physical construction at the site or installation of the tank system to be completed within a reasonable time.
exotherm
giving off heat in a reaction or solution of a substance.
exothermic
Evolving heat.
explosive
-OSHA A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature.-DOT An explosive is defined as any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion, i.e., with substantially instantaneous release of gas and host, unless such compound, mixture, or device is otherwise specifically classified by DOT.
explosive limits
The range of concentration of a flammable gas or vapor by volume in air) in which explosion can occur upon ignition in a confined area. The boundary-line mixtures of vapor or gas with air, which, if ignited will just propagate the flame. They are known as the "lower and upper or explosive limits," and are usually expressed In terms of percentage by volume of gas or vapor in air. [11]
exposure
the amount of radiation or pollutant present in an environment which represents a potential health threat to the living organisms in that environment.
exposure
contact of an organism with a chemical or physical agent. Exposure is quantified as the amount of the agent available at the exchange boundaries of the organism (e.g., skin, lungs, gut) and available for absorption.
exposure assessment
the determination or estimation (qualitative or quantitative) of the magnitude, frequency, duration, and route of exposure.
exposure event
an incident of contact with a chemical or physical agent. An exposure event can be defined by time (e.g., day, hour) or by the incident (e.g., eating a single meal of contaminated fish).
exposure limits
the concentration in workplace air of a chemical thought acceptable. This means that most workers can be exposed at the given levels or lower without harmful effects. The exposure limits in common use are (1) TLV-TWA (threshold limit value - time-weighted average); (2) STEL (short-term exposure limit) or STEV (short-term exposure value); (3) C (ceiling value).
exposure pathway
the course a chemical or physical agent takes from the source to the exposed organism. An exposure pathway describes a unique mechanism by which an individual or population is exposed to chemicals or physical agents at or originating from the site. Each exposure pathway includes a source or release from a source, an exposure point, and an exposure route. If the exposure point differs from the source, a transport/exposure medium (e.g., air) or media (in cases of intermedia transfer) also is included.
exposure point
a point of potential contact between an organism and a chemical or physical agent.
exposure point concentration
the concentration of a chemical at the exposure point.
exposure route
the way a chemical or physical agent comes in contact with an organism (i.e., by ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact.)
extent of play
refers to the extent to which the objective will be demonstrated through the completion of response actions corresponding to those that would be accomplished in a real emergency.
extinguishing media, agents
the type of fire extinguisher or extinguishing method appropriate for a specific material. Some chemicals react violently in the presence of water, so other methods such as the use of foam or COà should be followed.
extrapolation
extending information beyond the point where proven data is available.
extremely flammable liquid
Any liquid having a flash point below 20¿F (-6.7¿C), unless the liquid is a mixture having components that constitute 99 percent or more of the liquid by volume and that have flash points of 20¿F or greater.
extremely hazardous substances
any of 406 chemicals identified by EPA on the basis of toxicity, and listed under SARA Title III. The list is subject to revision.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
